Dragon's Tale, the city of Darkrise

I woke up is a very warm chamber, the moon light coming in from the window seemed gorgeous, I looked around but I found no one here, I closed my eyes, thinking that this is a dream, my nightmare cannot be over, an image popped inside my head, there were two black dragons, one was a baby dragoness who had bright cyan scales on her back, the other was purely black and had a very strange hand. Then the black dragon had an odd feeling to him, like he is going to… I opened my eyes breathing heavily, I’m wide awake, a bit confused, but I am awake.

I stepped down from my bed, pain shot from my hind leg and I fell. As I’m getting up, I start to realize the room that I was in, it was a pink room with a fur carpet on the floor, a few unlighted torches on the wall, I looked at the bed and it was the size of a baby dragon, I thought about it for a second and realized that I am in the room of that baby dragoness, and then it hit me. “She can shoot lightning.”

“Oh you’re awake.”

The figure moved out of the darkness it was another black dragon with snow white scales on his back, only this one had three scares over his left eye that continue to his torso, he looks even more frightening than that other guy. he waved his paw and the rest of the torches light up one after the other.

“I see you remember what happened in the woods correctly, Reina does have a way with lightning.”  He chuckled, “now tell me do you remember everything else?”

I nodded yes, he is being so friendly, just like the dragons in the woods, could I be mistaking? Are there really dragons that can do nice?

“Can I take a closer look at you?” I think he realized my hesitation because what he said next was: “you don’t need to worry, I am a doctor. My name is Dominic of the house of Blake, second son to Edmund Blake and Jocelyne Rolan, on my honor as a Blake nothing bad will happen to you while you are in this castle wall.”

I nodded again, he then gently picked me up and placed me on the bed. He started to take off the bandages on my face then took a closer look all while humming something familiar “good, those have healed nicely.” He then picked up my arms and removed the bandages on my chest and stomach, “Oh no, This will leave a scare.” He then touched were the wound is clearly visible and a magical shroud of snow white colored wrapped around the wound and the next thing I know is that it healed. He finally took a look at my injured leg. As he was unwrapping the bandages I winced as the pain keeps getting worse, he must have noticed “does your leg hurts?” I immediately replied: “yeah, I fell off the bed because of it.” He nodded “hm this is bad” after taking a look at it he gave me his hand “What I am about to do is somewhat painful, so I want you to squeeze as hard as you can on my hand ok?”  I didn’t know what he wanted to do but I did as he told me, I saw him create another snow white aura with his other hand, he looked at me and said: “take a deep breath and count to ten.” I took a deep breath then started to count: one, two

“AHHHHH”

The pain was excruciating, it felt like my foot was about to fall off.

A second later I was wheezing, then the door was knocked down, “What are you doing to him? Witch doctor.”  Reina’s voice is as squeaky as ever, but Dominic ignored her completely, he kept looking at me: “See that wasn't so bad. Your leg had a damaged nerve, due to lightning passing through it, fixing nerves always hurts most.” He let me go then told me to step down.

I did as he said only this time, I didn't feel the pain, “Thank you.” I said joyously.

"Good." He nodded to me then turned to his baby sister, “and here I thought that your first hunt was taken away from you because you called your brother a death mage.”

“Oh I’m sorry for hurting your girly feelings, but if you hurt one scale on his back, I’ll…” She trailed off, then looked to her door and sighted, “fine, I’m sorry Dom.”

“Why does she only listen to you?” Dominic said out of the bloom.

And then I saw a figure in the hallway, and I realized that the guy with the disfigured hand was standing behind her. He then turned to his brother: “Considering that I am her actual brother while the rest of you are just too cool to actually stand up to her.” He then clapped both his hands together which made an odd sound, “dinner is almost ready why don’t you two go and help Adonis with the table?”

As Dominic and Reina left the teenage dragon looked to me: “I'll be leaving you as well, the fairies will guide you to the dinner table, do you need anything else?

I stumbled on my words, he just seem nice, and different. “You are Syri, Right?”

“Oh right I haven’t introduced myself yet, my name is Cyril of house of Blake, third son of Edmund Blake and Jocelyne Rolan, it is pleasure to meet you Spike of Equestria.”

"What are fairies?"

"Oh right, guys come in here." He stepped to the side and something odd just came in,  two flying dots of lights, only they look like ponies, pegasi? I wouldn't know.

"Hello there." said one of light

"He is a handsome one isn't he."said the other

"yes he is, do you think he is good for our princess?"said the first.

"Now now don't pester him too much, he has been sleeping for two whole days and may need time to adjust, have fun." and with that Cyril left the room, humming the same tune as his brother.

"Would you like to see the house?" said one of the fairies

"Oh yes, it is a big house you might get lost, better show you the way." said the other.

"It would be my pleasure." I was happy to be frank, I wasn't expecting this turnabout, it has been a while since I had any contact with any civilization, and I am excited because they are all dragons.

As our tour begins the first one notices is that house is huge, the bed rooms are on the third floor; there is a floor above that and a tower above that as well, on the fourth floor have a store room, laboratory, an experimentation room, and even a training room filled with all kinds of weapons. Then came the second floor, it had a huge dinning all, a theater, a music room and a library that’s even bigger than that in Canterlot, as I saw the library my heart sung, wishing that Twilight would be here, but I know better.

Then we came to the ground floor, were a bright entrance was lit with tons of candles that are shimmering all over the place, but there was something else, “the tower uses the light of the moon and the stars to light up and warm the entire house.”

“Wow talk about efficient, by day this place must be brighter still.”

"What is a sun?" asked one of the fairies.

"Do you mean the older sibling of the moon?" said the other.

"I guess." How come they don't know about the sun? something is off.

"You are no longer in Equestria, you know that right?" said one of the fairies.

"You are in the spine of misery, you do know where you are right?" said the other.

Where you are? Wait they is right, where am I, I went south after reaching the badlands, the dragons told me that the name of that mountain chain is spine of misery, and that no dragon ever dared to go their because it’s too dark.

“The spine of misery?” I hesitantly replied.

“Correct, this place is outside Equestria and thus doesn’t obey the same laws as Equestria." said one of the fairies.

"The spine have been named after the grand exodus of the children of the night." said the other.

“Wait the children of the night? But that’s....”

But before I continued I remembered that exact conversation I had about Nightmare Moon. And then I remembered the tune they were humming. I couldn't place my finger on it, it seemed to have been engraved in my head, but I don't know what it is. But as I looked up I saw the fairies dancing above me and chanting a different tune.

"The followers of Nightmare Moon, a legion in right."

"To whom they are called the children of the night."

"To follow their mother they fought to their grave."

"Only by the rightful moon to be saved.

By the dragons of the darkest sight."

"The dragons fought, and the children were saved."

"But within the shadows not all is glee."

"Fearful of the path they have paved."

"For some have turned and started to flee.

Toward the sun and it glorious shade."

"The dragons fought and all went south."

"Toward the misery and it's frightful mouth."

"And the blood that spilled could not be avenged."

"For our dear mother is not a path we seek."

"But a future for us there is but on one peek.

For Darkness to rise our war will end."

"What is that?" I couldn't understand the words at first. but before I can say anything, the room around me started to spin, and shades started coming and going, fighting and cutting down each other, and within the chaos one particular shade caught my eye, a dragon's shade and an alicorn shade, the alicorn took something from the dragon and the dragon screamed for it back, I don't know what came over me I started running toward that dragon, screaming at her that I am alive, wanting to comfort her. Then it all went blank

The next thing I know is that I was sitting at the table, with Reina Sitting right next to me and Cyril in front reading a book.

“Where am I?”

“Ah you’re awake, the fairies stunned you with their magic.” Apparently Reina was waiting for me. "You’ll get used to it, the fairies are the most annoying part of Darkrise, they get noisy whenever a new guy comes in and usually have a sense that seems to detect annoyance more than danger.”

"So what did the fairies do to you?" Asked Cyril nonchalantly as ever

"They told me a poem while dancing, something about the children of the night, dragons and darkness."

"Ah, that poem." He then slid the book that he was reading to me. "These are the journals of Edgar Blake, you'll understand the poem if you read through it."

I picked up what seems to be a very old book, "Thanks." But before I could open it, two dots of light came whizzing in front of.

"You want to know." said one fairy

"You wish to understand." said the other.

"But you will never comprehend." Said both of them in unisom as they twirled around the dinner table.

"Hey leave him alone." Reina snapped at them.

“Scary, scary” one them went “Reina defending her lover is scary.”

Lover!?! “I’m not his lover.”  Reina’s voice is definitely a piercing one, reminds me of Sweetie bell, and Rarity. Lovers, my first thoughts went to Rarity…Rarity, I wander what she is doing right now, probably loathing me.

The fairies kept teasing Reina calling her and me love birds and other love related things, and Reina kept yelling at them to stop, I glanced over the table only  to see Cyril truing hard to repress a laugh while Dominic laughing uncontrollably.

“Lovers?” The voice came literally out of nowhere. However it made everyone stiff as a board.

“Reina is too young for such a thing, and the next time I’ll hear chanting for lovers it better be for you two.” The giant black dragon with red scales on his back was standing right on top of the table, pointing at Cyril and Dominic.

Reina seemed relieved that all the teasing had stopped.

“That is impo~ssible, because they are bo~res.” Said a singing voice coming from the back.

Cyril gave one last chuckle while Dominic glared at the coming dragon, that dragon was black like all his family members it seems, however his back scales were shinning silver, he was definitely handsome by all means of characterization of what a handsome dragon should look like.

“Oh Adonis, it is not like you to delight us with your tales of conquest.” Dominic sure used an acidic tone with his brother.

“I would brag about my conquest last Sunday, when dad was invited to a party and the young ones were out hunting, but what’s the use? It’s not like it’s a competition between brothers right?”

The big dragon rubbed his paw on his face: “when will you ever learn respect to females that I wish to know, and Dom please try not to kill your brother at the dining table.”

I got curious about this conquest thing is but I was interrupted when the big dragon looked straight at me and asked: “So what is your name dear guest?” For some reason his stare is more compelling that Celestia at court.

“I’m spike, I come from Equestria,” I thought for a moment: “thank you for receiving me in your house, it’s quite a big and beautiful mansion might I add.”

“Glad you enjoyed it, my name is Edmund Blake, son of Edgar Blake; this is my eldest son Adonis, he is the one that cooked dinner, and I’m sure you have met Dominic the doctor that treated you.”

“Newly graduated might I add.” Interrupted Dominic

“And you have already been introduced to Reina and Cyril.” Cyril gave a curt salute and Reina stayed the same.

“And since you don’t originally belong here,” Remarked Adonis “one quick word of advice, ignore the fairies, they will bother you to no end, and you won’t even be able to know their names.”

“That is right so eyes in your soup dragonizer, and don’t even think about our Reina that way.”

I seriously don’t know what they are talking about, so I yelled “What way?”

Everyone else chuckled with the exception of the two kids on the table.

“Ok, ok enough pestering the young ones,” Edmund pointed at the fairies, to which they bowed down and left. Then he turned to Spike: “So spike tell me, what brings you here all the way to Darkrise?”

I sighted, I can't tell them that I ran away, and Celestia forbids I definitely can't tell them why, If they knew the truth I will definitely get kicked out of their house, but I don't want to leave, I have to say something, say something, Say something.

“He ran away from home.”

“I was going to say that.” Wait what am I saying? How the hay did he find out, wait who found out in the first place.

“Well I know you wanted to say it, but you were too hesitant, I thought you needed a push.” Now I’m sure, it was Cyril, but did he figure out I’m hesitating? I noticed a wave of awkward looks have been exchanged around the table then I hear Reina mutters “uh oh” under her breath, I turn to her for advice: “what is going on?”

“He cold read you.”

“What does that mean?”

“You’ll see.”

“I have to say though,” Cyril continued unfazed by my lack of understanding of the situation, “You did well reaching all the way over here even though you have been raise by ponies of all creatures.”

Wait what? now I know he is definitely messing around with me, I must have talked in my sleep or something, though I definitely didn’t tell anyone, no one anywhere should know that I am here.

“I’m sure you covered your trail too well, I mean not anyone can get away after hurting someone close to them.”

"That is a lie." Tears where swelling in my eyes, I'm scared, I'm angry, I'm defenseless, then I thought about it 'He can’t be, he couldn’t be, could he be inside my mind'.

“Well not inside your mind per say.” Cyril continued nonchalantly while I am freaking out. I’m becoming more terrified from him by the second and all he did is be nice to me, this isn’t happening, this can’t be happening.

“Stop that” her shriek is definitely piercing, and I can feel her paws wrapping over me, I took solace in them, for some reason I can’t move or breathe, he completely controlled me for a moment, or is it just a moment.

“Wow, he isn’t just any bore, he is a complete jerk.” I hear Adonis

“I am deeply sorry for the distress I caused you, I’ll punish myself and skip dinner.” Cyril said that in his same nonchalant tone and then got up in a hurry and went straight to the door.

Everyone seemed relieved with the exception of the father, Edmund looked as if something was still amiss, “Spike, I normally don’t like forcing that particular issue on anyone, but I’ll make an exception for you, I want you to follow Cyril and force him to tell you everything, that dragon have answers even I can’t find.”

“But Father,” objected Reina but before she can even talk, Edmund shut her down, “he needs this,” and then he looked straight at me and says: “Go now.”

At that moment, something stirred inside, I can’t really describe it; it’s as if my blood is boiling, even though I am frightened of what that dragon knows I can’t help but to stand up and follow.

I met Cyril half way down as he was leaving the mansion. “Wait” I screamed from the top of my lungs but as I reached the stairs he was already up.

“I see father used suggestion on you,” he took a look around him, “you won’t tell anyone that I am about to leave, little one?”

“I want to know how you knew all these things I haven’t told that to anyone yet.”

“Oh that is easy, those were only my first impression of you.”

His first impression of me! This is crazy, not even Celestia can know a person that well on her first look.

“I bet she doesn't have half the training that I have.”

Again, “How do you know that I was thinking of Celestia?”

“I didn't know it was the princess of the sun, I just assumed a she since most pony society is female driven, however you told me her name willingly and confirmed that it was a she you were thinking about.”

He paused to allow his words to set in, then continued: “You see most of what I do is guess work, I’ll explain everything from the top: I knew you were lost from the first moment I set my eyes on you, a baby dragon hurt in the middle of nowhere being sniffed by a wild animal, give rise to two possibilities, A you are lost, B you are a runaway. I know that you are not lost because being lost implies that someone is looking for you, and we have been in those woods for 3 days when we found you, it would have been easy to know, that was further confirmed by the fact that when you woke up you did not ask to see anyone, which proves that you are not looking for someone, ergo you ran away.”

I nodded, all he said is just simple observation, but he knew so much more. “What about me being raised by ponies?”

“Your mannerism, you have a conflict in them, you are a very nice fellow, almost to the point of being naive, you have shown concern toward my sister who always, and I do mean always, emits a sense of dominance, you replied with gentle words, you kept your composure all through your conversation, all of which are usually pony, but it was a dead giveaway when you trailed your words over who raised you.”

“I still don’t see the conflict you are talking about.”

“Well it became apparent with your comment over my arm, a pony would have shrugged it  off as something not important and wouldn't have inquired over it, but a dragon is rude enough to inquire over it, which also indicates to me that you have been on your own for quite some times now.”

“Yes I have, but how do you know about me harming somepony I loved?”

“Well that is harder to explain, you see you keep looking down to your left, which is a sign that you are remembering something, and after you do that you display an emotion. However you did that same reflex so many times on Sunday that you literally became an open book to me, from feeling of self-pity climbing up to self-loathing, to being dismayed and even disgust, to sadness and loneliness, most of these emotion would last a fraction of a second, so no one but myself could discern them, but it became clear that you are punishing yourself over something, it all becomes clear when you put one and one together what is going on.”

I sat there in awe as to what I heard, I have traveled the whole of Equestria and have never met any pony with that talent, he can read my face like a book I felt relieved but disappointed at that, I thought it would be much cooler than simple observation.

“Now since you don’t have any questions, I’ll be taking my leave.” Cyril stood up, “Oh before I go, I have a word of advice for you, I don’t really know what happened in your past, though I expect you to tell us sooner or later, but I want you to know one thing, Darkrise is the city in the stars; here you can reach whatever you need to grow and to become the best dragon you can ever be, so no matter what happens Spike, I hope you stick around to find out.”

“Find out what?”

“How should I know, I’m no god.” He waved goodbye and left.